Orton's preseason his playoffs

Former Purdue standout given little time to play after rookie year.

Former Purdue standout given little time to play after rookie year.

August 30, 2006|K.C. JOHNSON Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO -- A year ago, Kyle Orton took nine snaps in the Bears' final exhibition game, his status as the starting quarterback so precious that injury couldn't be risked. Thursday night in Cleveland, he could triple that number in a mostly meaningless game. Except to those Browns defenders intent on separating Orton's life from limb as they try to impress coaches. And, of course, to Orton. "I'll take anything I can get these days," Orton said. "I haven't played a whole bunch in the preseason. I have to take advantage of this one. It's on tape, so it's important for me individually. Anytime you're on film, you need to play well. It's a chance to show everybody what I can still do." Ah, yes, Orton. Remember him? No. 18. Guy who started 10 victories last season, joining Ben Roethlisberger as the only rookie quarterbacks to hit double digits since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. On his first of those nine snaps last year, also against Cleveland, he found a streaking Muhsin Muhammad in stride for a 47-yard gain. His future seemed limitless. Three plays later, Orton underthrew Justin Gage in the end zone and was intercepted. The up-and-down nature of those plays seems a perfect metaphor for Orton's Bears career. He has traveled from the high of starting for a division winner to the reality of being mired deep behind Rex Grossman and Brian Griese on the depth chart. Table scraps are now his main course. "It is hard, but you can't sit here and dwell on the negative," Orton said. "You do have to be realistic in the fact that it's tough to make strides when you're getting four to six reps a practice. That's just the way it is. But I think I've done a pretty decent job of making the best of it." Quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson agreed. "He's handled it as well as anybody could," Wilson said. "He's had a chip on his shoulder. He let people know that he wasn't happy about it, but it didn't affect his play. Anger didn't overcome him. He's used the situation to motivate him. He's pushed himself on the field, and I think he's gotten better." Orton created a minor stir among Bears fans on message boards and in chat rooms when he claimed to be frustrated by his situation during training camp. That reaction didn't take place at Halas Hall. "If he would've taken going from the starter to No. 3 as no big deal, I would've been disappointed," Wilson said. "He was angry, but not to the point where it affected him in the classroom or with Brian or Rex. He didn't mope around. He's paid attention to the other guys and then tried to take advantage of the reps he did get." Those have been infrequent, of course. Orton didn't play Friday against Arizona and is just 7-for-15 for 49 yards in exhibition games. He has handed off more than a church usher during offering. That's why Orton is looking at Thursday night as his playoff game. "Extended time will give me a chance to get into a rhythm and hopefully make some improvements in the passing game," he said. Wilson said those improvements have been on display during practices and in off-season work. The knock on Orton coming out of last season was poor footwork and a tendency to overthrow each pass. Wilson said he has worked with Orton to drop back more quickly to get better balance at the drop's peak and thus throw with more touch. "It's working," Wilson said. "He's so much more comfortable. He's reacting a lot quicker to the things he sees. He can anticipate things now. I think he's grown and matured quite a bit." And that, along with the organization's unwavering belief in Grossman and Griese's spectacular preseason, is why management feels better about the quarterback position than ever before. The Bears' third-string quarterback owns a winning NFL record. "This is the best grasp I've had on the offense," Orton said. "I feel I'm right there with Rex and Brian in knowing the offense. I know what we have to do with the ball. I work real hard on that part of the game to be prepared. "You never know, right?"